Kobe is having a great start to the season. I didn't think he would have been this great. Its pretty amazing actually.

Matt Barnes - "I respect all my opponents but I fear no one."

Deron Williams - “I hate ’em, you know,” he said the other day. “I hate the Lakers. They’re so good. I hate them because they win all the time. They’re a tough team. … We definitely talk about it. It’s not a secret. We hate the Lakers.”

If the Lakers considerably improve their record (which they should) and he keeps this level of play, then he will deserve it I believe, though we know pretty well that sometimes deserving the award isn't enough.

It will be hard for him to beat LBJ. The guy is honestly really good, and we know the media really wants to give him the award.

I don't know why LeBron has to always be the "consideration" and front runner just because, even if another player ends up having a similar season he's still always considered the front runner or it's always his to lose for some reason. It's like everyone else doesn't even exist. LeBron is more popular amongst coaches as well as fans because obviously he's the best player in the league, but I don't think approaching awards with favoritism is fair to the other players. I don't see why Kobe can't win it if the Lakers have a successful season with one of the best records and Kobe still being able to perform like he has. Also Kobe doesn't have to expend so much energy as he used to so that means a little less margin for error this season. I just hope he stays focus and continues to play like he's been playing. I don't understand why he just has one GAWD DARN MVP anyway stuff doesn't make any sense, the MVP award is like this mystical offering these days, no one ever knows how it's gonna be won or why it's gonna be won but it'll be won.

Post game analysis with Sam Mitchell: "...here is another thing -- Kobe Bryant is 6 foot 8, so when he comes off the pick and roll..."

What's wrong with these guys? First, the NBA power rankings thinks that we're being coached by Bickerstaff and the writer is wondering why we want to replace Bernie with Mike D'Antoni -- and this guy somehow doesn't know that Kobe is really 6-5 (listed as 6-6 who knows why)...

6-8?

"It's not realistic to get younger and better when you only have the veteran's minimum to offer free agents."

A post I came across on another board, really does make you appreciate Kobe Bryant even more:

kblo247 wrote:Hakeem, Magic, Michael, Bill, Larry, Shaq, Tim, KG and so on. Kobe has outlasted them. He's played more minutes in the season and playoffs. He's been asked to be the main facilitator, scorer, and defender on his teams, unlike them because of roster ineptitude.

His peers at his position a decade ago were AI, T-Mac, Vince, Ray, Rip, Manu, and later on Wade yet most are out the league or greatly reduced role guys. Kobe however has had the longest prime of any wing player in history

Kobes longevity even if he retired tomorrow can only compare to Malone and Kareem, because statistically no perimeter player has ever had such an extended prime, some have had higher peaks, but not been 25-5-5 for a decade without their minutes protected or responsibilities greatly reduced. Fact is he's truly special, a pride to have in a Laker uni, whether you like him or not personally because you know he gives his all to the job even in the offseason and always has.

XXIV wrote:A post I came across on another board, really does make you appreciate Kobe Bryant even more:

kblo247 wrote:Hakeem, Magic, Michael, Bill, Larry, Shaq, Tim, KG and so on. Kobe has outlasted them. He's played more minutes in the season and playoffs. He's been asked to be the main facilitator, scorer, and defender on his teams, unlike them because of roster ineptitude.

His peers at his position a decade ago were AI, T-Mac, Vince, Ray, Rip, Manu, and later on Wade yet most are out the league or greatly reduced role guys. Kobe however has had the longest prime of any wing player in history

Kobes longevity even if he retired tomorrow can only compare to Malone and Kareem, because statistically no perimeter player has ever had such an extended prime, some have had higher peaks, but not been 25-5-5 for a decade without their minutes protected or responsibilities greatly reduced. Fact is he's truly special, a pride to have in a Laker uni, whether you like him or not personally because you know he gives his all to the job even in the offseason and always has.

It's not surprising, we're generally in agreement that Kobe is amazing and whatever arguments do crop up from time to time don't go very far because at this point arguing that Kobe isn't amazing is blotting out reality. There's plenty of things to nitpick or criticize about his game at times and those will come up as they come up but overall you can only say the same things so many times.

Compare it to something like Dwight coming to LA which is generally seen as a positive move but is still inherently more controversial(in the strictest sense of the term) and liable to generate discussion and arguments from people who have different opinions about his player profile, how he'll fit on the team, etc...

Tack on that the forum simply sees more activity today than it did 4 years ago, and it's not too difficult to see how it would play out that way. Didn't Lebron's thread in NBA General have hundreds of pages as well?

Jazzygirl205 wrote:I don't know why LeBron has to always be the "consideration" and front runner just because, even if another player ends up having a similar season he's still always considered the front runner or it's always his to lose for some reason. It's like everyone else doesn't even exist. LeBron is more popular amongst coaches as well as fans because obviously he's the best player in the league, but I don't think approaching awards with favoritism is fair to the other players. I don't see why Kobe can't win it if the Lakers have a successful season with one of the best records and Kobe still being able to perform like he has. Also Kobe doesn't have to expend so much energy as he used to so that means a little less margin for error this season. I just hope he stays focus and continues to play like he's been playing. I don't understand why he just has one GAWD DARN MVP anyway stuff doesn't make any sense, the MVP award is like this mystical offering these days, no one ever knows how it's gonna be won or why it's gonna be won but it'll be won.

It's because he's the best player in the league, putting up the best stats, and his teams are consistently on top of the Eastern conference. He's efficient too. If he went 4 games shooting below 50% it would be news. Kobe needs to put up 25-5-5 on 50+ shooting, and get that #1 seed then he should get the MVP. The West is tougher then the East.

This game's in the refrigerator: the door is closed, the lights are out, the eggs are cooling, the butter's getting hard, and the Jello's jigglin'! - Chick Hearn RIP

Jazzygirl205 wrote:I don't know why LeBron has to always be the "consideration" and front runner just because, even if another player ends up having a similar season he's still always considered the front runner or it's always his to lose for some reason. It's like everyone else doesn't even exist. LeBron is more popular amongst coaches as well as fans because obviously he's the best player in the league, but I don't think approaching awards with favoritism is fair to the other players. I don't see why Kobe can't win it if the Lakers have a successful season with one of the best records and Kobe still being able to perform like he has. Also Kobe doesn't have to expend so much energy as he used to so that means a little less margin for error this season. I just hope he stays focus and continues to play like he's been playing. I don't understand why he just has one GAWD DARN MVP anyway stuff doesn't make any sense, the MVP award is like this mystical offering these days, no one ever knows how it's gonna be won or why it's gonna be won but it'll be won.

It's because he's the best player in the league, putting up the best stats, and his teams are consistently on top of the Eastern conference. He's efficient too. If he went 4 games shooting below 50% it would be news. Kobe needs to put up 25-5-5 on 50+ shooting, and get that #1 seed then he should get the MVP. The West is tougher then the East.

The problem is, Kobe's doing this now, and there's still no mention of him even being second in voting. Yet you hear before the season's even started that LeBron has the best season and the best game evar seen in the world ever. Come to think of it, with that much hubris it's a miracle the basketball gods haven't left him looking like this poor fellow.